Thanks everyone for the explanations! I understand what happened now. The 7 days is basically a deductible period that I don't get paid for, and since I only had 4 additional days of disability after that, AND I used sick pay for the first 6 days, I basically didn't qualify for any benefit payment. Seems like SDI only makes sense for longer disability periods. I'll know better for next time, though hopefully I won't need surgery again! I may still try calling EDD just to confirm this understanding.

This is such a common misunderstanding! I went through something similar with my maternity leave last year. The key thing to remember is that SDI is really designed as income replacement for when you have NO other income coming in due to disability. Since your employer covered those first 6 days with sick pay, SDI views that as you already having income replacement for that period. It's frustrating because you're paying into SDI through payroll deductions, but the system assumes your employer benefits come first. For future reference, some people choose to save their sick days and go unpaid earlier to maximize their SDI benefits, but that obviously depends on your financial situation and employer policies.

guys. GUYS. i literaly just got off the phone with them after 2 months of trying. heres the secret: call the spanish line and press 2 for english. way less wait time. your welcome 😎

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 5 weeks and counting in "pending" status. It's so stressful not knowing when (or if) it'll get resolved. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips, especially @Chloe Taylor for that comprehensive breakdown. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy and also look into contacting my state rep. This whole situation really highlights how broken the system is. Hoping we all get through this soon! 🤞

One more thing I forgot to mention from my experience: if your recovery takes longer than initially estimated, have your doctor submit a supplemental medical certification BEFORE your original recovery period ends. This prevents gaps in payment. I made the mistake of waiting until my original certification expired and had a 3-week gap with no benefits while they processed the extension.

As someone who's been through the SDI process for work-related injuries, I wanted to add a few practical tips for your situation: 1. When you're filling out your application, be very specific about your job duties. Don't just put "line cook" - describe that you need to grip knives for extended periods, lift heavy pots/pans, and perform repetitive chopping motions. This helps EDD understand why you can't work during recovery. 2. Keep copies of ALL your medical records related to the carpal tunnel diagnosis, not just the surgery forms. Sometimes they ask for additional documentation showing the progression of your condition. 3. If your restaurant uses a payroll service like ADP, give them a heads up that EDD might contact them for wage verification. This can speed up the process. 4. Since you mentioned a cyst removal too, make sure your surgeon includes both procedures on the medical certification - don't let them forget the "minor" procedure since it all affects your recovery time. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead puts you way ahead of most people. With 3+ years of steady employment and a legitimate medical need, you should have no issues qualifying.

does anyone know if the waiting week still applies for pregnancy disability? i heard it was waived during covid but came back

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I was in almost the exact same situation! I had a pregnancy disability claim approved in October and was worried because I couldn't find my old EDD card from 2020. You'll definitely get a new card - Bank of America automatically sends one for each new claim period. Mine arrived about 8 days after my first payment was processed. The card came with a sticker showing the last 4 digits so you know it's the new one. One tip: I actually called Bank of America's EDD line (1-866-692-9374) proactively to report my old card as lost, just to make sure there wouldn't be any confusion. The rep was really helpful and confirmed that the new card would be completely separate from the old one. Good luck with your pregnancy and don't stress too much about the payment logistics - it sounds like you're being proactive by filing early!

Ive been in your shoes and it SUCKS. heres what worked for me: 1. Call right when they open 2. Have all your docs ready 3. Be super nice to the rep (even tho you wanna scream) 4. Ask for a supervisor if the first person cant help 5. Follow up EVERY WEEK until its resolved Stay strong, you got this! 💪

I went through something similar when I was self-employed as a freelance graphic designer. The key is documentation! Here's what saved me: 1. **Tax documents**: Get copies of your Schedule C from your tax returns - this shows your business income/expenses 2. **1099s**: Collect all 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC forms from clients 3. **Bank statements**: Print statements showing deposits from real estate commissions 4. **Business records**: Any invoices, contracts, or commission statements you have 5. **Quarterly tax payments**: If you made estimated tax payments, include those records The appeal process is worth it - don't let them dismiss your case! When you submit your appeal, include a cover letter explaining that as a real estate agent, your income is commission-based and fluctuates. Attach everything above as proof of your actual earnings. Also, make sure you're applying based on your highest earning quarter in the base period (usually 12-18 months before your claim). Good luck! 🤞